Well not all of us
kcameron said:
Also, Innodyn should try and understand that most of us speculators really hope that they've invented a great new engine. That's why we're bothering to pay attention to them.
Well I don't think anyone wants anyone to come to harm or loose money or worse. Since this nice Gentalman has posted his pics, we are of course all pulling for him. However I will cop to being interested because I think its a train wreck, in the sense expectation and promises will crash into reality. There is no way its making the 7 gal/100hp. It also looks like engine operations, rpm/power/fuel management may be more difficult than a Lyc.
cjensen said:
I REALLY hope they are listening too! <snip> Everytime I fly the King Air at work, all I can think about is how sweet it would be to power my -7 with a turbine engine. JIM, WHERE DID YOU GO??? WE NEED AN UPDATE!!
CJ are you kidding. Do you pay the bills at your company? What are those PT6's costing per hour, inspections, overhaul? Turbine = Nice
, Turbine cost to an individual / sport pilot = sell kidney
Yea I'm glad every time my RB211's spool-up, but it's hard to beat the suck, squeeze, bang, blow of the Lyc. For a 100-260 hp engine that does not make a living and flys 100-150 hours a year, tops, a piston engine is hard to beat. Heck even Lycs are making a living flying pipe line, freight, charters and small airlines. I'v been involved with piston aircraft fleets of close to 40 and most where Lycs, they do earn their keep.
There is no doubt turbines are sexy, but so is a Ferrari, Lamborghini and that new $400,000 Rolls Royce but its not like you will buy one so the wife can all kids to soccer practice and get groceries. Unless there is a technological breakthrough, a new "Paradigm" if you will, I hate that word but it fits here, than turbines will never be for average pilot/plane owners. Its like getting your own Nuclear reactor for your house, nice idea but not practical. The BEST you can do is find a old Lear, Citation, MU2, King-air, European Fighters/Trainer to get your Turbine jollies off.
What was it, 10-15 year ago, you could get a Casa Jet, Fuga Magister (V-tailed, tandem, later made into the personal ParisJet), L-29 or one of those Brit trainer/attack jets like the Provosts, for less than a RV cost today. They are still Cheap. I remember the first import L-39's turbofan trainer/attack (looks like a Douglas A-4), they cost less than $100,000. Now insurance, fuel and practicality come into effect, but if I wanted a jet I'd buy one already flying, it would be cheaper and actually do something than a home made turbine that is trying to only be a piston engine replacement.
Jets/Turbines are made to go real fast or haul lots of stuff. The RV airframe is not really suitable match. The best Kit plane/Turbine is the Lancair Prop-Jet with a used Walter (PT6 copy). You are looking at $500,000-$750,000. Now you have a pressurized personal 4 place plane. Makes sense.
I am looking at the VLJ's (very light jets). The Diamond, Maverick, Vantage, Eclipse, Adams and Cirrus jet. We shall see if the reality and dream end up in the ditch again or it takes off. Cheap Turbines are nice idea, but most of the improvement is with the 900-2000 lb thrust turbofan engines. By today's standards, they have to get cheaper, both initial purchase & operation cost, by a factor of 4-10 times before you and I can afford one. I have looked into the little 200-300lb thrust APU/Drone Jet engines and they are too small. I don't want to fly a BD-5 sized plane because frankly they are dangerous. The accident rate speaks for itself.